The Lyric Opera of Chicago's upcoming production of West Side Story—to be led by the previously announced Corey Cott and Mikaela Bennett as Tony and Maria, respectively—has found its complete cast.
The Francesca Zambello-helmed production will run May 3–June 2. Other previously announced principal cast members are Amanda Castro as Anita, Manuel Stark Santos as Bernardo, and Brett Thiele as Riff.
Joining them will be Adam Soniak (Action), Taylor Simmons (A-rab), Jarred Manista (Baby John), Callan Bergmann (Snowboy), Jeffrey C. Sousa (Diesel), Wesley Ryan (Big Deal), Paul HeeSang Miller (Gee-tar), Juan Caballer(Tiger), Alexa Magro (Anybodys), Alyssa Sarnoff (Pauline), Veronica Sofia Burt (Velma), Julio Rey (Chino), Mark Deler (Pepe), Joshua Lamar (Indio), Michael J. Rios (Nibbles), Sebastian Garcia (Toro), Linedy Genao (Rosalia), Addie Morales (Francisca), Alexandra Matteo (Consuelo), Kayla Moniz (Teresita), Antonia Raye (Estella), and Carolina Villaraos (Margarita).
Chicago-based cast members will be Kyra Sorce (Graziella), Paige Fraser (Minnie),Shannon Alvis (Clarice), Joseph A. Hernandez (Luis), Greg Blackmon (Anxious), Martín Ortiz Tapia (Juano), David Alan Anderson (Doc), Bret Tuomi (Lt. Schrank), Jerry Kernion (Officer Krupke), and Ed Kross (Glad Hand).
Members of the Lyric Opera Chorus performing in West Side Story will be Desirée Hassler, Maia Surace, Corinne Wallace-Crane, Sherry Watkins, Michelle Wrighte, Hoss Brock, Matthew Carroll, William M. Combs, Tyler Samuel Lee, Kenneth Nichols, Ronald Watkins, and Nikolas Wenzel.
A co-production with Glimmerglass Festival and Houston Grand Opera, West Side Story will feature sets by Peter J. Davidson, costumes by Jessica Jahn, and lighting design by Mark McCullough. Julo Monge will recreate Jerome Robbins' choreography, and James Lowe will conduct members of the Lyric Opera Chorus and Orchestra.
West Side Story features music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents.
The Chicago production of West Side Story will wrap up as the new Steven Spielberg adaptation is expected to begin filming. A new stage production from Tony-winning director Ivo van Hove is also expected to arrive on Broadway in early 2020.
